5K run to boost KHS clubs

Kearny High School is marshaling all its resources for a blockbuster event to coincide with the start of the fall term.

It’s billed as the “first annual Kearny 5K Charity Run/ Walk,” open to students and the public, slated for Saturday, Sept. 7, three days after classes resume for the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year.

Proceeds from the run will go “to benefit the extra-curricular programs at Kearny High School,” according to a fact sheet provided Mayor Alberto Santos and the Town Council last week.

Those extra-curricular programs, in which an estimated one of every five KHS’s approximately 1,700 students participate, “receive no money from the Board of Education,” nor – for the most part – do faculty and/or parental advisors who serve as volunteers, said KHS Vice Principal John Millar, who oversees athletics/ activities.

Students and parents organize periodic canning and other types of fundraising on nights and weekends to support the extra-curriculars, Millar said. With the run, he added, KHS is “putting a program in place so that students and parents spend less time on fundraising and, instead, spend more time on the programs.”

One big reason extracurricular groups need money is for travel, Millar said. Examples: the Fishing Club did a weekend trip to Brielle to catch blues and striped bass; Alpha Omega, a Christian club, visited an evolution museum in Kentucky; Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) recently attended a national convention in California; and the Culinary Club went to the City Farm Café at Manhattan’s Union Square Park to pick up items needed to plan and execute a banquet.

The KHS fact sheet says the event will run from 8 to 11 a.m. with organizers setting up for the race at 7 a.m. and spending an hour in postrace mode doing cleanup.

Racers will start at the back side of the KHS stadium football end zone at the south end of the field, then exit the stadium to Forest St., go one block and turn right onto Quincy Ave., go one block and turn right onto Davis Ave. to enter West Hudson Park where they’ll complete one loop around the park, then turn right onto Davis and turning left onto King St. and continuing to the stadium entrance until they reach the finish line 165 meters down the track near the south field house.

KHS is asking the town to place barricades along the race route and to close residential streets “within the event area” to vehicular access, between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and run organizers “will be responsible for notifying all residents affected by street closings and [parking restrictions] … [and] will deliver fliers to residents’ doorsteps detailing [the] course map and street closures no later than Sept. 1,” the fact sheet says.

Organizers are asking the town for a police presence along the route for safety’s sake.

The KHS Band will be positioned inside the stadium and will play “as runners start and finish.” Organizers will take pains to ensure that the music volume will not “adversely impact” on residents and businesses. Restroom facilities, along with food and water, will be available inside the stadium.

As an added attraction, organizers will set up tents to display student work and/or to distribute information about student programs. Aside from the 5K race – which KHS says will be USA Track & Field certified – there are also plans for a “fun” race for children.

“I’m very excited,” KHS Principal Al Gilson said. “This will really build our culture and support our kids and it’s a great way to kick off the school year. We’ll also be showing our kids an example of a healthy life style. Our purpose is actually two-fold: we do fundraising and we show the community what [our kids] do.”

And, Gilson said, “it will be a good way to get kids who don’t sign up for extra-curricular programs to get on board, build a sense of community in our school.”

“We’re shooting for 500 to 750 participants,” Gilson said, “but I’d love to get 1,000 or more.” But organizers still have to pin down a budget for the event, including such things as overtime for municipal police and/or county sheriff’s officers; T-shirts and trophies; certification and timing of the race; race forms, bibs, pins and packet prep, ribbons, raffles and race announcer; food and beverages; race posters and lawn signs.

Organizers will try to line up corporate sponsors to help subsidize the event, Millar and Gilson said.

Insurance coverage for the event is provided through the Board of Education’s policy, Millar said, so that’s one less item to factor into the projected budget.

KHS art teachers are designing the race Tshirts, he said.

Gilson and Millar are the co-directors of the race but they’ve got plenty of help from these volunteers: Matt Weber is registration coordinator, Jim Cifelli is course marshal, Jennifer Correnti is volunteer coordinator, Wendy Kerr is food coordinator, Police Sgt. John Manley is logistics coordinators, Sally Sprague is secretary, Charlotte Harris is treasurer, Chris Mc- Shane is design director and Alan Correnti is media coordinator. Millar is also awards coordinator.

Share this:

Related

The Observer Staff

Post navigation

Holiday in the Park Lyndhurst

PLEASE NOTE CORRECTED DATE FROM PRINT: The township presents “A Holiday in the Park,” Saturday, Dec. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. in Town Hall Park, Delafield Ave. The rain date is Sunday, Dec. 11, at the same time. Enjoy music, costumed characters, appearances by Charlie Brown and Snoopy, an Elf on the Shelf, free horse and carriage rides, a trackless train ride and more. Photos with Santa are free as are roasted chestnuts, hot cocoa, hot apple cider, donuts, egg nog and coffee. A variety of food items, along with arts and crafts, will be available for purchase.

This week’s e-Edition

Search The Observer

Search for:

Brady, Brady & Reilly

NOTICE

Have you or someone you love been involved in a crash or accident involving New Jersey Transit? If so, it is crucial that you contact an experienced accident lawyer immediately. Only a skilled lawyer can help you achieve compensation by identifying the best method of recovery in such cases.

The attorneys at Brady, Brady & Reilly are currently handling all claims against New Jersey Transit. Call and make an appointment for a free consultation!

Statute of limitation for ANY CLAIMS against NJ TRANSIT: Notice of your intention to file a claim against NJ TRANSIT must be sent to the claims department within 90 days of the accident in which you were injured or you will be forever barred from filing a lawsuit.

Contact our law firm immediately after an accident so that we can send your notice and begin investigating your claim.

Schuyler Savings Bank

Business Directory

Coccia Realty

Call BHGRE Coccia Realty at (201) 997-7000

Abbott/Milano Insurance

Keypoint Mortgage

Hague’s Blog

On Social Media

Advertise with The Observer

Business partners wanted

Looking for qualified business partners! Are you a sports-minded, self-motivated, entrepreneurial-minded individual? Contact Opportunity@lmfmarketing.com to educate yourself on this opportunity and see if this is a fit for you.